Signal or indicating device



March 3, 1942. R, LADUE 2,275,300

SIGNAL OR INDICATIfiG DEVICE Filed Sept. 12, 1938 /i1 Patented Mar. 3, 1942 UNITED STATE-S PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This inve'ntion-relates-to a signal-or to an indicating device. While the invention may have various applications and uses, in the embodiment of the same illustrated it is constructed and arranged to be connected to and operated bya cash register. It is a custom in manyplaces to remit the price of a purchase or to make no charge for the purchase when an indicator assumes a certain'position. One form of such indicator comprises a device having a dial with a hand movable thereover and cooperating with circumferentially spaced indications on the dial. Each time the cash register is operated to record a purchase or a sale the indicating device is operated so that the hand is spun and comes to rest in registry with one of said indications. When the hand comes to rest in registry with some certainindication a signal is sounded or operated and the customer is not charged for the goods.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and efficient signal or indicating device which can be operated by the closing of a pair of electrical contacts which will sound or operate a signal upon certain conditions.

It is afurther object of the invention to provide a signal or indicating device comprising a dial havinga hand movable thereover and adapted to register with indications on the dial together with means rotatable with said hand adapted to close an electrical circuit and operate a signal when said hand stopsin a certain position.

These and other and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will befully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing in which like im reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation ofsaid device; Fig. 2-is a vertical section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a, view in rear elevation, certain parts being broken away; and

Fig.4 is a partial view similar to Fig. 3' showing the parts in different positions.

Referring to the drawing a device is shown comprising a dial Ill. While this dial may have various shapes in the embodiment of the invention illustrated'it is shown as made of a rectangular piece of sheet material. While the dial could be made of metal or other suitable material, in practice it has usually been made of glass. A frame member II is provided having a flat rectangular face'portion forming the support'for the device and having an upstanding lip l'la disposed at and engaging the lower front portion of dial l0 into which said dial may be secured. A cy1indrical casing I2 is disposed in the rear of dial I0 and secured to arms Ilb of frame member II which extend upwardly towards each other and have portions l'lc engaging casing I2 and secured thereto in any suitable manner as by welding. The removable cover I3 is provided for the rear end of casing l2 having a flange I341 fitting over the rear end of said casing and secured thereto by circumferentially spaced screws M. A bracket l5 has a portion secured to the top of easing [2 by headed and nutted bolts it, said bracket engaging the rear side of dial ID at its upper central portion and being reversely bent to extend down along the front of said dial. Bracket l5'is again reversely bent upwardly and has a horizontal portion l'5a which is centrally apertured. Said latter portion may be used as asupport if this is desired. A hub ll is-centrally secured in casing l2 having a portion extending through dial I0 and extending a short distance at the front thereof. A shaft [8 is journaled in hub I1 and has a hand I9 secured to its front end, which hand moves in front of and cooperates with dial I0.

" Hand I!) has a pointed end l9a, which end is adapted to cooperate with and to register with some one of a multiplicity of indications Illa formed on dial I0. As shown in Fig. 1 indications Illa are arranged in a circle and these may be given different colors as indicated in Fig. 1. These indications in practice have been painted on dial l0, which dial also has thereon a colored circle lob and a colored border ll'lc extending along its sides and top. Said dial also has thereon a decoration in the form of a broken circle [0d having points We at its spaced ends.

Shaft l8 has secured to its rear end a toothed wheel 20. A lever 2| is pivotally connected between a pair of arms 22 which project from a magnet frame 23 having a horizontal base portion 23a whichis secured by headed and nutted screws 24 tothe horizontal shelf portion 25a of a bracket 25 which is in turn secured by rivets 26 to a supporting plate 21 extending vertically near the front of casing l2 and which carries hub ll. Plate 2'! is supported by and secured to the front side of casing H by headed and nutted bolts 21a. Washers 21b which may be of resilient material surround said bolts between the wall of easing l2 and plate 21. While lever 2! could be connected to arms 22 in various ways, in the embodi ment of the invention illustrated a headed and nutted bolt 28 extends through and between said arms on which are mounted spacers 29 at each side of lever 2|. Lever 2! is fulcrumed on an arm 23b extending from frame 23 by a headed and nutted bolt 30. A pawl 3| is pivotally connected to the lower end of lever 2| by the headed stud 32, said pawl having an arm adapted to engage a projection 2|a at the lower end of lever 2|, which projection acts as a stop. Pawl 3| is adapted to cooperate with tooth member 20. Shaft l8 carries at its rear end a disk-like portion 80. to which is secured by the headed screws 33 a bar 34. An arm 35 is swingingly mounted on a stud 36 secured adjacent the end of bar 34. Arm 35 has connected thereto or formed as a part thereof at its terminal portion a contact member or part 35a and in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, this part is shown as of angle shape, the angle approximating a right angle. A bar 31 is connected to the lower portion of plate 21 by a nutted stud 38 extending through said plate and through a spacing sleeve 39, a washer 40 being shown as engaging bar 31. Stud 38 extends through a slot 31a extending longitudinally and centrally of bar 31. Bar 31 will be made of insulating material and the same has secured to the sides thereof contact members 4| and 42. The end of bar 31 has an angular recess therein the studs of which are at substantially the same angle as the angle on swinging arm 35. Contact members 4| and 42 have their end portions bent to extend along the sides of said angular recess and said portions are spaced from each other. A tensile spring 43 is connected at one end to lever 2| above its fulcrumed point and at its other end to a pin 44 secured in plate 21. Conductors 45 and 46 are connected respectively to contacts 4| and 42. Conductor 45 extends to one terminal of a transformer 41 and a conductor 48 extends from the other terminal of transformer 41. Transformer 41 comprises a frame 41a secured to the lower part of casing |2 by headed and nutted bolts 41b. Washers 410 are inserted between said frame and said casing and may be of resilient material. A pair of conductors 49 are also connected to transformer 41 and will be connected to a plug adapted to be in turn connected to an electrical socket. Conductors 46 and 49 as Well as conductors 49 are shown as extending through an insulating bushing 50 secured in the cylindrical wall of casing I2. Conductors 45 and 48 which may be in the form of a cord, are in turn secured to a signal shown as in the form of a bell or gong and which may be of any suitable and standard construction.

Toothed wheel 20 will be made of iron or steel and a permanent magnet 52 has spaced poles 52a adapted to align with adjacent teeth on said wheel. Magnet 52 is carried by a headed stud 53 extending therethrough and through a spacing member 54 and secured in plate 21. A washer 55 is shown disposed under the head of screw 53.

Frame 23 carries a magnet 56, the core of which is connected to the arms 22. A pair of conductors 51 are connected to magnet 56 and to binding posts 58 on a member 59 of insulating material secured to plate 21. Conductors 60 are also connected respectively to binding post 58 and these extend through an insulating bushing 6| in the cylindrical wall of casing l2. A pair of conductors 62 and 63 are provided connected at one end, which connection is shown as covered by an insulating covering 64. Conductors 62 and 63 also extend through bushing 6|. One conductor 60 and conductor 63 will have secured thereto a plug adapted to be connected to an electric socket for supplying current. A conductor 60 and conductor 62 will be connected to a switch which will be closed for operating the device. This switch may be connected to the drawer of a cash register so that each time the register is operated the switch will be closed.

In operation, the plug connected to conductors 49 will be connected to an electric socket for supplying current. A conductor 60 and conductor 62 will be connected to the cash register as described. Each time the cash register is operated current will be supplied to magnet 55 by the closing of the switch to which conductors 50 and 62 are connected. When magnet 56 is operated arms 22 will be quickly drawn toward said magnet. This will swing lever 2| quickly and pawl 3| will engage the teeth on wheel 20 and a sudden rotative impulse will be given to this wheel. The switch closing the circuit will be only momentarily closed and magnet 55 will be at once deenergized. Lever 2| will be swung to its normal position by spring 43 and in this return movement pawl 3| will swing about its pivot 32 so that wheel 20 will not be affected. Wheel 20, shaft I8 and hand [9 rotate freely for several revolutions and finally come to rest. As wheel 20 comes to rest magnet 52 will stop said wheel with teeth thereon aligned with the poles 52a and hand l3 will then register with its pointer |9a registering centrally with one of the indications Ilia. Bar 34 and arm 35 rotate with shaft 8 and when pointer I9 stops in vertical position registering with the triangular indication Ina arm 35 will come to rest in the angular end of bar 31 and the angular sides of arm 35 forming a contact member will bridge contacts 4| and 42 and close a circuit through the signal 5|. Signal 5| will be operated. In practice, this signal has been a large gong which will produce aloud sound which can be heard all through the establishment. Everyone present will then realize that someone has gotten a free purchase or prize. Arm 35 will only connect contacts 4! and 42 when hand |9 comes to rest in vertical position. The circuit including contacts 4| and 42 will not be closed no matter how slowly arm 35 passes thereover. The circuit will only be closed when member 35 comes to rest in the position shown in Fig. 4. It will be understood that the position of hand I9 on shaft l8 can be varied so that anyone of the indications Illa could form the winning position.

From the above description it is seen that I have provided a simple, efficient and very entertaining form of signal or indicating device. The device when installed in a store, restaurant or tavern creates a great deal of interest and everyone watches the device to see if their purchase brings up the winning position. The signal adds greatly to the interest in the device. The device is attractive in appearance and in fact, forms a decoration for a bar, counter or other location. The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to be very successful and efficient.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicant's invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A signal and indicating device having in combination, a dial having a multiplicity of circumferentially spaced indications thereof, a freely rotatable hand movable over said dial, means for giving a rotating impulse to said hand, means for causing said hand to come to rest in registry with one of said indications, a freely rotatable shaft on which said hand is mounted, a swinging arm carried by said shaft, said arm having an angle shaped contact at its terminal portion, an electrically operated signal, a pair of spaced contacts disposed at an angle to each other, said angle'being substantially the same as the angle on said arm, said angularly shaped contact being adapted to engage said last mentioned contacts and bridge the same for completing a circuit and operating said signal when said hand stops in registry with a certain one of said indications but to pass over said contacts without bridging them before said hand stops.

2. A signal and indicating device having in combination, a dial having a multiplicity of circumferentially spaced indications arranged in a circle thereon, a freely rotatable hand movable over said dial and constituting a pointer adapted to point to and align with said indications, means for giving a rotating impulse to said hand, means for causing said hand to come to rest in alignment with some one of said indications, a, member connected to rotate with said hand, an arm mounted on said member and swingable thereon about an axis spaced from the axis about which said hand rotates, a, contact carried by said arm, an electrically operated signal and a circuit for said signal adapted to be closed by said contact member for operating said signal when said hand stops in a, certain position.

3. A signal and indicating device having in combination, a rotatable member such as a hand, means for giving said member a rotative impulse, a second member connected to rotate with said member, an arm mounted on said second member and swingable thereon about an axis spaced from the axis about which said first mentioned member rotates, a swinging contact carried at the end of said arm, an electrically operated signal, a pair of spaced contacts adapted to be engaged and electrically connected by said first mentioned contact when said first mentioned member comes to rest in a certain definite position for closing the circuit through said signal and operating the same, said first mentioned contact being constructed and arranged to pass over said pair of contacts without electrically connecting them as said arm rotates.

4. A signal and indicating device having in combination, a dial having a multiplicity of circumferentially spaced indications thereon, a freely rotatable shaft arranged coaxially with said dial, a hand secured to said shaft movable over said dial, a toothed wheel secured to said shaft, a swinging lever at one side of said wheel, a pawl on said lever adapted to engage the teeth of said wheel, means for giving a sudden swinging impulse to said lever and pawl to cause said pawl to give a rotating impulse to said wheel, shaft and hand, an arm carried by said shaft, an angleshaped contact swingably mounted on said arm, a pair of spaced contacts disposed at an angle to each other, said angle being substantially the same as the angle on said arm, said angularly shaped contact being adapted to engage said last mentioned contacts and electrically connect the same for completing a circuit when said hand stops in registry with a certain one of said indications but to pass over said spaced contacts without electrically connecting them in the rotation of said hand before the latter stops and an electrically operated signal operated when said circuit is closed.

ROBERT LADUE. 

